Grille panel structure and fittings



1933- 0. K. SCHNEIDER GRILLE PANEL STRUCTURE AND FITTINGS Oct. 31, 1933.

0. K. SCHNEIDER 1,932,644

GRILLE PANEL STRUCTURE AND FITTINGS Filed May 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 ITEE STATES PATENT FFIQE Harrington & King Perforating Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Company,

Application May 24, 1930. Serial No. 455,308

10 Claims.

The present invention pertains to grille panel structures such as are employed in connection with heating and ventilating ducts, radiator covers, certain articles of furniture and for similar purposes. Grille structures of this character ordinarily employ sheet material for the grille proper, either in the nature of perforated'sheet metal plates, cast plates or woven metal-lacing, in which sheets of material are formed suitable open work designs. In the majority of instances in which grille structures are employed, they must be made up especially for the individual installation. This is so partially because of the preference of the customer or his architect for certain designs, but principally because the grille must be made to lit the dimensions of other structure. Manifestly, to make up a special grille panel for each job requires a reasonable period of time and likewise is relatively costly.

One of the main objects of this invention is to produce an improved grille panel structure which is capable of being made expeditiously and at a comparatively low cost. It is also an object to provide an improved grille structure which permits the manufacturer to carry a substantial stock of grille sheet material of standard designs, so that in the majority of installations a grille may be produced quickly by cutting a stock sheet to proper size.

A further object is to provide an improved grille structure which permits making the grille to exact dimensions irrespective of the design formed in the grille stock sheet. A still further object resides in the provision of an improved grille structure employing a sheet of metal-lacing as the grille proper and providing means engaging the marginal edges of the sheet of metal-lacing for binding and reinforcing it so as to permit it to be held tautly stretched and secured to a grille frame. It consists in certain features and elements of construction, herein shown and described, and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings:----

Figure l is a fragmentary view of a corner of a grille panel structure, embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the back side of the grille panel structure.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the corner fitting for the grille frame.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken diagonally through a corner of the grille structure, as indicated at line l l on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially as indicated at line 55 on Figure 1..

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken substantially as indicated at line 6-6 on Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a modified structure showing a corner of a grille made of metal-lacing having its marginal edges provided with binding and reinforcing strips.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view through a metal-lace grille panel structure shown assembled on a mounting. V

Figure 9 is anenlarged fragmentary detail section taken at line 99 on Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of a corner of a grillestructure, employing a metal-lacing panel. 1

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a clamping member forming part of the frame structure.

The grille panel structure embodying the present invention is in general similar to that dis.- closed in my co-pending application Serial No. 407,597, filed November 15, 1929, and represents certain refinements and improvements thereover.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the structure includes a grille panel, 11, which as shown, is in the nature of a sheet of metal plate provided with a suitable perforated design, herein indicated as a series of rectangular apertures, 12, which constitutes an all-over design for the grille panel; the spacing of the openings resulting in connecting bridges, 13. It may be understood that these openings may be of various shapes andsizes, such as circles, hexagons, etc., and may be arranged in any suitable combination to produce an artistic design. The bridges, 13, insome instances (as when the grille is to be used in connection with heating and ventilating ducts), are preferably relatively narrow so as to aiford the maximum open area. By virtue of my construction the grille panel material may be made up by the manufacturer in relatively large sheets and in various designs, preferably in sizes corresponding approximately to a maximum size grille panel so that these stock sheets may be quickly cut to any smaller size for obtaining a grille panel of desired dimensions.

To provide an ornamental and finished appearance for the grille, the panel, 11, is provided with a frame including a plurality of separate frame members, 14., overlapping the marginal edges of the panel with their adjacent ends engageable with suitable corner fittings indicated at 15, for completing the framing. These framing members are preferably made of sheet metal bent upon itself in spaced apart relation and I with marginal edges terminating in spaced apart relation forming a slot, at the under or back ide of the member, as seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. The top central area of each framing member is depressed at 14 so as to reduce the distance between the top and bottom s rfaces thereof to snugly accommodate in telescopic relation the pairs of angularly related tongues, 16, of said corner fittings, 15. By depressing the central top portion of these framing members there are formed, at the inner and outer margina1 edges of the framing, upwardly offset, longitudinally extending channel-ways, 17, in which are engaged a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending tapered ribs, 18, formed on the upper surfaces of each of the tongues, 16, of said corner fittings. These ribs, 18, which are relatively short and located to engage the extreme end portions of the frame members, 14, are formed tapering toward the free ends of the legs, and are adapted to serve as wedges to firmly engage the ends of the framing members when they are forced to the limit of telescopic engagement on said tongues.

These framing members are manufactured in long sections and then cut to desired lengths for the particular installation. The corner fittings which are preferably cast members, may be of any suitable design, and, as herein shown, the fittings each comprise a rectangular portion, 15, connecting the two angularly related tongues, 16, with the ribs, 18, terminating at said rectanglar portion. For purposes of ornamentation the upper surface of said rectangular portion may be provided with some artistic extend laterally beyond the margins of said grille panel. The corners of the panel, as seen in Figure 2, are cut off to form a short edge, 20, extending obliquely to and connecting the adjacent marginal edges, and substantially perpendicular to a plane bisecting the angle between said adjacent marginal edges. Clamping mem bers, 22, are provided for securing the grille panel, 11, to the framing, and each of the clamp members includes a triangular area, 23, adapted to be secured against the under side of the cor,- ner fitting, and dimensioned to fit snugly in the corner of the rectangular portion, 15*, as seen in Figure 2. The clamps each have an offset flange, 24, extending from the hypotenuse of said trangular area for engaging said oblique edge, 20, of the grille panel by overlapping the back surface thereof. Bolts, 25, extend through the rectangular portions of the corner fittings faces of which the clamp member engages, and said skirts are so dimensioned as to be abou flush with the outer surface of the clamp flange 24, when assembled, as may be seen in Figure 5 the framing members, 14, ar 5 and likewise formed so that their outer marginal edges which strips in any suitable lie laterally beyond the marginal edges of the panel, 11, extend to provide skirt portions, 14*, substantially fiush with the skirts, 15 of the corner fittings. The grille panel, 11, is preferably cut so that its marginal edges substantially abut the inner surface of the frame skirts, 14 and thus reinforce the entire structure. It will be manifest that by reason of this construction a grille structure of exact dimensions may be accurately and quickly produced, irrespective of the size or form of openings constituting the openwork design of the grille panel. The assembled grille structure may be secured to a mounting by any suitable fastening elements, such as wood screws, indicated at 28, and if the mounting surface is flat the skirt portions, 14) and 15 of the framing and corner fittings respectively, will be caused to fit tightly against the mounting surface so as to produce a finished appearance.

Figures '7 to 10 show a modified grille structure in which the grille panel consists of a sheet woven of interlaced metallic ribbon material, hereinafter referred to as metal-lacing, 30, whose outer marginal edges are embraced by U-shaped or folded metal strips, 31, of relatively pliable material. Pressure is applied to these manner, such as by hammer blows, so as to depress certain areas thereof, causing them to embrace the elements of the metal-lacing, as indicated at 33, in the drawings. By this arrangement these metal strips are firmly locked to the marginal portions of the metal lacing and serve as a binding and reinforcement therefor. The extreme corner portions of the sheet of metal-lacing are cut away and the strips, 31, are dimensioned accordingly, so that the marginal edges of the sheet of metal-lacing may be bent or folded transversely to the main plane of said sheet of material, at planes substantially parallel to and adjacent the open edges of said U-shaped strips, as may be seen in Figure 8. This bending of the marginal edges of the sheet of metal-lacing also serves to reinforce and stiffen the main portion of the metallace grille panel, and. tends to prevent collapsing of the elements forming the same, and thus precludes any alteration or disfigurement of the design thereof.

In this construction the framing members are of the same type as those employed in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 6, and are rigidly secured to the sheet of metal-lacing by a plurality of angle clips, 34, each having one leg anchored in a framing member between the top and bottom walls thereof with the other leg projecting transversely and outward through the opening between the marginal edges of said framing member, as seen in Figure 8. These outwardly extending legs of the angle clips are rigidly secured to the U-shaped reinforcing strips, 31, by bolts, 35, extending therethrough, thus holding the panel sheet of material in place on the framing members. The framing with the panel connected thereto may be then secured to its mounting in any suitable manner, and as shown in Figure 8, by means of the wood screws, 28, spaced at suitable intervals along :aid frame member.

Preferably in making up a grille of metalacing the sheet of this erial is so dimenioned that when the marginal edges thereof e bent transversely, and assembled in the amathese marginal portionswill be spaced a rom the projecting legs of the clips, 34, as

.ibstantial distance, say, one-eighth inch, away.

indicated at 37, in Figure 8, so that when the bolts, 35, are tightened the metal-lace grille panel will be stretched tautly, so as to remove any excess material that may form a bulge or depression therein.

The construction employing metal-lacing for the grille panel proper is relatively inexpensive to manufacture since the metal-lacing is fabricated in large quantities and is normally made up in great lengths so as to be conveniently handled and stored in rolls; and by virtue of its relatively low cost and its adaptability to be cut to a desired size, it is apparent that a grille panel structure for any special installation may be quickly fabricated. It will be understood that the metal-lacing may be fabricated in a variety of designs and weights, so as to afford a substantial selection for different uses.

1. In a construction of the character indicated, a grille of sheet material, hollow framing members overlapping the marginal edges of the grille, a portion of the upper surface of the framing members being upwardly offset to produce a longitudinally extending channelway, and corner fittings connecting adjacent ends of said members, and provided with a pair of angularly related tongues adapted to be telescoped into the ends of said framing members, said tongues each having an upstanding rib adapted to be telescoped into said offset channelway of the cooperating member.

2. In the construction defined in claim 1, said rib being tapered toward the free end of the tongue to act wedgewise for insuring a snug fit of the framing on the tongue when telescoped thereon.

8. In a construction of the character indicated, a grille of sheet material, framing members overlapping the marginal edges of the grille, said members being formed of sheet material folded upon itself in spaced apart relation, and having the upper surface adjacent the lateral edges provided with upwardly offset portions producing longitudinally extending channelways; and corner fittings connecting adjacent ends of the framing members, each of said fittings having a pair of angularly related tongues adapted to be telescoped into said framing members, said tongues being provided on their upper surfaces with a pair of transversely spaced upstanding ribs adapted to register in said channel-ways of the framing.

4. In a construction of the character indicated, a grille of sheet material, framing members overlapping the marginal edges of the grille, said members being formed of sheet material folded upon itself in spaced apart relation, and having the upper surface adjacent the lateral edges provided with upwardly offset portions producing longitudinally extending channel-ways; and corner fittings connecting adjacent ends of the framing members, each of said fittings having a pair of angularly related tongues adapted to be telescoped into said framing members, said tongues being provided on their upper surfaces with a pair of transversely spaced upstanding ribs adapted to register in said channel-ways of the framing, and said ribs being tapered toward the free ends of the tongues to act wedgewise for firmly engaging the framing when telescoped therein.

5. In a construction of the character indicated, a grille of metal-lace sheet material having its marginal edges bent transversely of the normal plane thereof, hollow framing members arranged to overlie the outer edges of the effective grille area, said framing members being formed of sheet metal folded upon itself in spaced apart relation with the edges terminating in spaced apart relation on the under side thereof, clips each having a part confined in one of said framing members with a lug extending outwardly between said spaced apart edges thereof, and means for securing the outwardly extending lugs of said clips to the bent marginal portions of the grille.

6. In the construction defined in claim 5, strips of sheet material engaging the bent marginal edges of the grille for reinforcing the same.

7. In a construction of the character indicated, a grille of metal-lace sheet material having its marginal edge portion flexed to project transversely of the grille surface, and framing structure in which the grille is fixedly mounted arranged to overlie the outer marginal portion of the effective grille area U-shaped reinforcing members, independent of the frame clasping said projecting marginal portions, and means securing said reenforcing members to the frame, said securing means being adapted to enforce the clasping of the flexed marginal portion of the metal-lace by said reenforcing member.

8. In a construction of the character indicated, a grille of sheet material, hollow framing members overlapping the marginal edges of the grille, a portion of the upper surface of each framing member being upwardly offset to produce a longitudinal channelway, and corner fittings connecting adjacent ends of said members provided with a pair of angularly related tongues adapted to be'telescoped into the ends of said framing members, each tongue having an upstanding rib positioned to enter the channelway of the frame member and the grille having each corner removed by an oblique cut, thereby forming a short edge connecting the adjacent marginal edges, the framing overlapping the marginal edges, and clamping means engaging the grille adjacent said oblique edges and secured to the back faces of the corner fittings respectively.

9. In the combination defined in claim 8, said clamping means comprising substantially triangular plates each having an oflset marginal portion for overlapping said oblique edge of the grille in clamping engagement therewith, and a bolt positioned for drawing said plate against the rear face of the corner fitting.

10. In the combination defined in claim 8, said clamping means comprising plates associated respectively with the corner fittings, each of said plates having an offset marginal portion overlapping the oblique edge of the grille, each corner fitting having marginal flanges upstanding from its rear surface and extending at least flush with the outer face of the offset part of the plate.

OSCAR K. SCHNEIDER. 

